Reporting Sexual Victimization To The Police And Others: Results From a National-Level Study of College Women
Abstract
Beginning with Koss, Gidycz, and Wisniewski’s pathbreaking study, the sexual victimization of female college students has emerged as salient research and policy concern. Building on this earlier work, we used a national, random sample of 4,446 female college students to focus on an issue of continuing importance: the level and determinants of victims’ willingness to report their sexual victimization. The analysis revealed that although few incidents—including rapes—are reported to the police and/or to campus authorities, a high proportion are disclosed to someone else (mainly to friends). Incidents were more likely to be reported to the police when they had characteristics that made them more “believable” (e.g., presence of a weapon or assailant who was a stranger). The use of alcohol and/or drugs by offenders and/or victims had a unique effect, causing students to be more likely to disclose their victimization to friends but not to campus authorities. The implications of the findings for extant debates and for future research are also explored.
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Many individuals still do not seek SA exams following an experience of SA due to fear, barriers to access, or lack of understanding about SA exams.
“many individuals still do not seek SA exams following an experience of SA due to fear, barriers to access, or lack of understanding about SA exams (Fisher et al., 2003; Zinzow et al., 2012).”
From “Having One Person Tell Me I Didn’t Do the Wrong Thing”: The Impact of Support on the Post-Sexual Assault Exam Experience (2024) · cites this paper as Fisher et al., 2003
Cites
Koss, M. P., Gidycz, C. A., & Wisniewski, N. (1987) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.55.2.162 · Cited by 2,602 · see citing works
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An ecological model of the impact of sexual assault on women's mental health
Campbell, R., Dworkin, E., & Cabral, G. (2009) · Trauma, Violence, & Abuse · doi:10.1177/1524838009334456 · Cited by 997 · see citing works
Dworkin, E. R., Brill, C. D., & Ullman, S. E. (2019) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2019.101750 · Cited by 263 · see citing works
Male Sexual Victimization: Examining Men’s Experiences of Rape and Sexual Assault
Weiss, K. G. (2010) · Men and Masculinities · doi:10.1177/1097184x08322632 · Cited by 247 · see citing works
Emerging issues in the measurement of rape victimization
Cook, S. L., Gidycz, C. A., Koss, M. P., & Murphy, M. (2011) · Violence Against Women · doi:10.1177/1077801210397741 · Cited by 214 · see citing works
The role of victim-offender relationship in women’s sexual assault experiences
Ullman, S. E., Filipas, H. H., Townsend, S. M., & Starzynski, L. L. (2006) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/0886260506288590 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Zinzow, H. M., Littleton, H., Muscari, E., & Sall, K. (2022) · Victims & Offenders · doi:10.1080/15564886.2021.1978023 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Rape Myth Acceptance Impacts the Reporting of Rape to the Police: A Study of Incarcerated Women
Heath, N. M., Lynch, S. M., Fritch, A. M., & Wong, M. M. (2013) · Violence Against Women · doi:10.1177/1077801213501841 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Mennicke, A., Coates, C. A., Jules, B., & Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J. (2022) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/08862605211050107 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
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Grandgenett, H. M., Steel, A. L., Brock, R. L., & DiLillo, D. (2022) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/0886260519898429 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
From DARVO to Distress: College Women’s Contact with their Perpetrators after Sexual Assault
Rosenthal, M. N., & Freyd, J. J. (2022) · Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma · doi:10.1080/10926771.2022.2055512 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
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“…more engagement with the criminal justice system (Campbell, Bybee et al., 2012; Campbell et al., 2005), many individuals still do not seek SA exams following an experience of SA due to fear, barriers to access, or lack of understanding about SA exams (Fisher et al., 2003; Zinzow et al., 2012).”
Background
- Authors
- Fisher, B. S., Daigle, L. E., Cullen, F. T., & Turner, M. G.
- Affiliations
- University of Cincinnati (US)
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte (US)
- Venue
- Criminal Justice and Behavior
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2003-02
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 6-38
- ISSN
- 0093-8548 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-3594
- OpenAlex
- W2024758875
- Cited by
- 808
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 23 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 61 · 2019: 62 · 2018: 43 · 2017: 66 · 2016: 52 · 2015: 50 · 2014: 38 · 2013: 41 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 19.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Criminal Justice and Behavior (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
- Keywords
- sexual victimization, reporting behavior, female university students, rape, disclosure to friends, alcohol and drug use, offender characteristics, victim credibility
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